PROTEST DEMONSTRATION against the GROSS DISCRIMINATION TO NEPALI SPEAKING CANDIDATES IN EMPANELMENT of TEACHERS BY WB COLLEGE SERVICE COMMISSION (WBCSC)

KalimNews, New Delhi: A demonstration was called by Gorkha Students of Jawaharlal Nehru University at the Banga Bhawan, Government of West Bengal in New Delhi against a recruitment of Asst Professor. The protest was called to condemn the Gross discrimination against Nepali Speaking candidates in empanelment to the post of Assistant professor in Economics (2013-14) by the West Bengal College Service Commission (WBCSC).

The protestors pointed out to the brazen discrimination that has been displayed in preparation of the merit panel in Economics, where not a single Nepali speaking candidate was selected. The total number of vacancies declared in Economics was 117, for which 98 candidates have been empanelled for counselling for the final recruitment. The majority of the Nepali speaking candidates who fall under ST category have been out-rightly excluded by empanelling only 1 candidate (non-Nepali speaking) against 14 ST vacancies.

It shows the nefarious and casteist moves of conversion and non-fulfilment of reserve category seats The number of seats (117) for each of General, SC, ST, OBC-A and OBC-B categories were 33, 57, 14, 4 and 9 respectively. The number of candidates empanelled (total 98) in each category were 56, 26, 01, 2 and 13 respectively.

A representative of the Gorkha students (JNU), Rukmini Thapa underscored the need to interpret this administrative highhandedness as a manifestation of the many forms of systemic discrimination against the Gorkha community to forcefully thwart their democratic aspirations as well as rights. By imposing linguistic barriers on nepali candidates, Ms Thapa condemned this as a desperate move of the ruling class to retain their hegemonic control over knowledge production by denial of equal opportunities to deserving and well qualified nepali candidates. She demanded that the commission maintain full transparency in the selection procedure which otherwise gives ample scope to the Interview board for discrimination in the viva-voce.

In solidarity with the Gorkha Students, the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union and representatives of other organisations like Democratic Students Union (DSU)and United Dalit Students Front (UDSF) from JNU also supported the protest. Ms Srirupa Bhattacharya of DSU condemned the colonial repressive practises of the West Bengal ruling class. Ms Bhattacharya said that, the ruling class of Bengal only wants to see the gorkhas as tea garden labourers and menial workers in low end and menial jobs in the service sector. Although the mass has always supported this movement; it is time and again the local leadership and sold outs which have betrayed them.

Ms Bhattacharya also, stated that the demand for separate statehood should be intensified as it is the only way to put an end to the hegemony of the Bengali ruling class. The vice-president of Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Union (JNUSU), Ms Anubhuti Agnes Bara also condemned such casteist and racist discrimination by the WBCSC and said that the JNUSU supports the cause. Chinmaya from UDSF,JNU said "this move of scuttling the constitutionally mandated reservation policy by the West Bengal government reflects its deep Brahmanical character".

Banojyotsna Lahiri, Assistant Professor in Delhi University congratulated the Gorkha Students for having organised the needful protest. She also commented that “the compulsion to know Bengal language that is imposed as a necessary criterion upon Nepalis to compete with the rest of Bengal, reflects the colonial policy where the oppressed are forced to learn the language of their master. But the opposite is never the case. No Bengali is asked or expected to know Nepali.

After nearly two hours of intense protest, the authorities in Banga Bhawan were forced to come forward to receive the memorandum addressed to the Chief Minister of West Bengal. The memorandum cautions the government against repeating such discrimination in the selection of candidates in other subjects which are due to be announced. It states that such highhandedness will not be tolerated in future.

The students have demanded that the commission re-consider the merit panel and announce a fresh one where all the vacant seats of the reserved category are filled. It is demanded that Nepali speaking Gorkha candidates be given equal rights to compete in vacant posts in the whole of Bengal as other Bengali speaking candidates by dismantling all forms of linguistic discrimination which automatically gets the candidature of Nepali speaking candidates rejected. Transparency was also demanded requiring the WBCSC to clearly state the criteria for selecting candidates which is easily subject to change upon the discretion and convenience of the WBCSC.